OREM, Utah — Tatum Hall, Emma Haygood, and Amber Rodriguez each homered on the day as Utah Valley (19-9, 2-1 WAC) rallied to a 7-6 walk-off win over the Utah Tech Trailblazers (11-20, 1-2 WAC) to earn a doubleheader split and win the series, two games to one.
The Trailblazers used a four-run first to take an early lead in the first game of the day, holding off a late Wolverine rally to win, 8-6.
Hall led the Wolverine bats on the day, going a combined 5-for-8 with a home run, a double, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Hall worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to give the Wolverines the win in the game and the series.
"Really excited to win that series. Tatum couldn't be better right now," said head coach Cody Thomson. "Lily [Riley] had another really good week, she just ran out of gas a little bit there at the end. I was really proud of Payge [Armendariz] coming in at the very end to close that out for us. The little things like that are going to make a big difference in the end for us."
GAME ONE
Armendariz gave the Wolverines six strong innings across two outings on the day, 5.1 in her start the first game and 0.2 in relief in the second. The senior from Heber City, Utah took some tough-luck lumps in the first inning with some unlucky breaks, but settled down to keep the Wolverines in the ballgame until the very end.
Utah Tech rallied for four in the first after a strange error prolonged the Blazer rally. After a leadoff walk, Sadie Phillips hit a slow roller to Hall at second. Hall collided with the runner going from first to second while trying to field the ball and couldn't make the play, and obstruction was not called. UTU got a trio of singles, a bases-loaded walk, and a wild pitch to bring in the four runs.
Utah Valley threatened to answer right back as Britney Moreno hit a triple to lead it off — breaking the program's career triple record — but was stranded there.
UTU pushed the lead up to 5-0 in the fourth with a double from Kinley Pappas.
The Wolverines trimmed the lead down to three at 5-2 in the home half of that inning. A Bailey Marvin walk and a Hall double set up Megan Sterzer and Armendariz, who each picked up sacrifice flies.
Utah Tech and Utah Valley put up matching three-spots in the sixth inning, with Hall homering to lead off the inning and Angelique Mann picking up a two-run single.
Haygood trimmed the deficit down to two at 8-6 with a leadoff homer to start the bottom of the seventh, but the Wolverines would not get any closer. UVU got the winning run into the batter's box in Rodriguez, but she lined out sharply to left to end the game.
GAME TWO
Utah Valley took its turn jumping out to an early lead, scoring two on a Haygood single. Rodriguez would push that lead up to three with a solo homer in the second, the first of her collegiate career.
Pappas did her part to get the Trailblazers back in the game, hitting a solo homer in the fourth and picking up an RBI triple in the fifth as Utah Tech rallied to tie it at three.
Utah Valley reclaimed its lead in the sixth, as Hall dunked a single into right center to score Moreno, then Kendyl Purdy slapped a single into left to bring in Mann, making it 5-3.
The Trailblazers rallied to take the lead in the seventh, aided in part by a catcher's interference and a throwing error that allowed what proved to be the go-ahead run to get into scoring position. Armendariz came on to retire the last two, picking up a strikeout before a Blazer was thrown out trying to steal second.
Utah Valley rallied for two in the bottom of the seventh to take the game and the series. Mya Higareda was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then advanced on a bunt single by Rodriguez. After a fielder's choice cut Higareda down at third, Moreno reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. Mann wore another HBP to tie the game, then Hall won it with a four-pitch walk two batters later.
With the win, Utah Valley finishes week one of WAC play in a three-way tie atop the standings, as California Baptist and UT Arlington won series against Southern Utah and Abilene Christian. With an odd number of teams in the WAC this season, Tarleton State was the odd team out, playing a non-conference series at home against Rhode Island.
Utah Valley will play two more games on this homestand, welcoming a pair of high-profile opponents coming to Wolverine Softball Field. The Wolverines will host the defending Mountain West champion Nevada Wolf Pack on Monday at 5 p.m. MT before welcoming the BYU Cougars on Tuesday at 6 for the Crosstown Clash. Admission is free, and both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
